Go into Windows on old HDD, No restore point, No backup.

Intro
Here is my problem. I have a good HDD with all my installed programs that work with Windows 7, my computer crapped so I had to canabilize my computer to salvage what I could.

ReInstall Windows 7
Obvisouly a previous installation of windows will NOT play nice with a different motherboard, I get the unholy Blue Screen of Death and then suicide (restart). I reinstalled Windows 7 on to another harddrive and contacted Microsoft for product key assistance.

Software and Licenses :sarc:
My heartache is not only having to reinstall every bit of software that I own; my biggest problem are the licenseing issues with the serial numbers that have to be activated online....or DEACTIVATED prior to screwing up your computer.

Virtual Speculation
I do know there are programs out there that will emulate windows. Virtual Box is a popular program that lets you emulate any OS on pretty much any other OS. *for those who dont know what I am talking about, good bye * At this point I am stumped because most of these programs use ISO versions of Windows....I need to emulate my specific version of windows straight from the HDD so that I can go back and back up or at least DEACTIVATE what I can.

Programs like:
Photoshop CS5
iTunes
Norton 360



Im trying to be honest and stay within the law here. I paid hundreds of dollars for these programs, I want them back.

So, log story short.

I want to jump back into that specific Windows 7 straight from the HDD without needing to create a Virtual Image.

So you did change your motherboard and tried to start windows from the same harddisk as always? That disk is still the way it was, so you didn't mess up with it?

What is the bsod error when booting from old harddisk?

Blue screen of death

Yes Kaktussoft, the motherboar is pretty much ruined (long story). I replaced the motherboard with a different one, however while using the same hard drive I get the Blue Screen of Death. It then resets itself. This happens so quickly that I didnt notice it was the Blue Screen of Death. After a few resets thats when I noticed it. So I wasnt able to get a code.

I read somewhere else that I would need to reinstall Windows 7 and start off fresh.


My goal here is to emulate it so that I may go into it and deactivate all programs otherwise they are lost forever and I would need to pay for them again. Trust me Photoshop CS5 is worth about $600.

Boot to http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/666-advanced-boot-options.html and select "Disable Automatic Restart on System Failure". So press F8 every second after powering on your computer and select that option. Then the system doesn't restart automatically after showing the BSOD. Make a camera shot of the bsod and post it. Or tell me exactly what the bsod error is

Assume we fix the problem and the system boots up succesfully. If so

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/77614-device-manager-hidden-devices.html So start device manager and show hidden devices as well! Uninstall all drivers you don't need anymore ... only devices you're sure of they are left overs of old motherboard! Uninstall unneeded software as well (for example special graphic card software belonging to old non existing graphic card)

Are there any devices with a question mark or exclamation mark?

"devmgr_show_nonpresent_devices" can be deleted afterwards if you wish.

Now reboot and install motherboard drivers using the DVD you received with your motherboard. Reboot again.
Does device management show any "unknown devices" or exclamation marks or question marks now?

What is the old and new motherboard? Give me the producer and type please.
And did you keep the same cpu?

I will try and post the results, thank you Kaktussoft.
Processor: (was) Intel i5
(now) Intel i7 2600k

Motherboard
(was) Gigabyte
(now) Asus